<p>I was wondering how likley it is to get a full ride/ a lot of money to go to Pomona and what their policies are on merit-based aid, considering i probably won't get much need-based. From what you know of does Pomona have a large scholarship fund, or if i were to get a full-ride somewhere else would they raise my scholarships? Especcially if i am over-qualified? i can post my stats if necessary..</p>
<p>There is no merit aid aside from a few national merit finalist awards of $2000 a year. Sorry.</p>
<p>Regardless of your scores, I don't know if I'd approch Pomona thinking you're "over-qualified," either. The ivies are for that.</p>
<p>To my knowledge, what grace said, although the need-based aid sounds very comprehensive.</p>
<p>heh, well put, than. I was thinking something similar - I mean, 16%, damn.
And yes, definitely apply for aid, because they are beyond generous, even if you think you might not qualify.</p>
<p>Grace, don't wait too long for that reply!</p>
<p>Just to let you know, you are unlikely to be overqualified. Pomona is too comprehensive in their admissions
And I am receiving a full ride next year but my family makes a small amount of money and we live in one of the most expensive areas in the country. They do not hand out merit based aid I believe and really want to get their aid to families who need it the most.</p>
<p>Would i qualify for need-based if i am middle-class? Or is it just families that make under 50,000?</p>
<p>Definitely not. Pomona has a chart in their viewbook about this. It indicates that families with incomes of between $100,000 and $120,000, for instance, who are recipients of aid receive an average grant of $17,000. I wouldn't count on this figure (I'm in this range, and I got a bit less), but that should tell you that most middle class families qualify for aid.</p>
<p>Yeah, definitely apply for aid, it never hurts!</p>
<p>Estimating your share of tuition is actually pretty easy -- just Google any of the many EFC calculators (CollegeBoard has one), enter your family's financial data, and voila: your share. That's the number any of the first- or second-tier colleges (including Pomona) will use to put together your financial aid package. </p>
<p>Merit aid is used as an added incentive at colleges that need a little extra help in attracting top students. Pomona ain't one of them.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Pomona gives very good financial aid. My family has an income of around six figures, but since we have three kids in college at the same time, my aid was over half of the college costs. They consider your circumstance fully, don't worry!</p>
<p>With three kids in college, the EFC remains the same but it is split three ways; thus, if your estimated family contribution were $30,000, you would be expected to pay $10,000 to each college. However, the original poster mentioned two much-younger sibs, not college-age.</p>
<p>The point I'm trying to make here is that it isn't voodoo. Pomona uses the FAFSA and Profile; your "need" is the total cost of attending a college minus your family's expected contribution, as determined by the College Board Profile calculation. Any variation is going to be minor and essentially meaningless. Collecting anecdotes from the LJ audience is meaningless. Go look at the published statistics.</p>